Deborah D Iwanowicz, PhD
Dr. Deborah D. Iwanowicz is a research fish biologist that utilizes molecular diagnostics for research studies.
Her research principally focuses on targeted amplicon sequencing applied to topics such as: diet evaluation, pollen identification, pathogen identification and microbial community profiling. She is a principle investigator and collaborator on a number of projects that focus on the effects of contaminants on fish health, the significance of disease organisms in invasive species, profiling complex microbial community dynamics, as well as protocol and assay development. Her research includes that of molecular microbiology (parasitology, bacteriology, virology on fishes, amphibians, sea turtles, marine mammals, insects, plants, aquatic and terrestrial gastropods). She leads efforts in the NFHRL for method development on metagenomics analyses of diet from scat, stomach content, or regurgitated cough pellets. This work has been modified to identify plant species found in pollen, diets of mammals, birds, and aquatic animals. She also often focuses her efforts on threatened and endangered species.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., 2007, University of Georgia
M.S., 1998, Purdue University
B.S., 1993, Purdue University
Science and Products
Molecular detection of avian influenza virus from sediment samples in waterfowl habitats on the Delmarva Peninsula, United States
Complete genome sequence of a novel aquareovirus that infects the endangered fountain darter, Etheostoma fonticola
Metabarcoding of fecal samples to determine herbivore diets: A case study of the endangered Pacific pocket mouse
Effects of urban land-use on largescale stonerollers in the Mobile River Basin, Birmingham, AL
Taxonomic characterization of honey bee (Apis mellifera) pollen foraging based on non-overlapping paired-end sequencing of nuclear ribosomal loci
Identifying plant taxa that honey bees (Apis mellifera) forage upon is of great apicultural interest, but traditional methods are labor intensive and may lack resolution. Here we evaluate a high-throughput genetic barcoding approach to characterize trap-collected pollen from multiple North Dakota apiaries across multiple years. We used the Illumina MiSeq platform to generate sequence scaffolds fro
Transforming growth factor-β1 expression in endangered age-0 shortnose suckers (Chasmistes brevirostris) from Upper Klamath Lake, OR relative to histopathology, meristic, spatial, and temporal data
Evidence of estrogenic endocrine disruption in smallmouth and largemouth bass inhabiting Northeast U.S. National Wildlife Refuge waters: A reconnaissance study
Mycobacterial infection in Northern snakehead (Channa argus) from the Potomac River catchment
Spread of the Rat Lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) in Giant African Land Snails (Lissachatina fulica) in Florida, USA
Efficacy of iodine for disinfection of Lake Sturgeon eggs from the St. Lawrence River, New York
Distribution, Health, and Development of Larval and Juvenile Lost River and Shortnose Suckers in the Williamson River Delta Restoration Project and Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon: 2008 Annual Data Summary
Intersex (Testicular Oocytes) in smallmouth bass from the Potomac River and selected nearby drainages
Non-USGS Publications**
https://www.lsc.usgs.gov/files/D%20Iwanowicz%202011.pdf
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
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Filter Total Items: 36
Molecular detection of avian influenza virus from sediment samples in waterfowl habitats on the Delmarva Peninsula, United States
Avian influenza viruses (AIV) affect many species of birds including waterfowl and may persist in sediment in aquatic habitats. Sediment samples were collected from two areas representative of prime migration and overwintering waterfowl habitat in Dorchester County, Maryland in the fall and winter of 2013–2014. Samples were screened for the presence of AIV via reverse transcriptase–quantitative PCAuthorsChristine L. Densmore, Deborah D. Iwanowicz, Christopher A. Ottinger, Larry J. Hindman, Amanda Bessler, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Diann J. Prosser, Matt Whitbeck, Cindy P. DriscollComplete genome sequence of a novel aquareovirus that infects the endangered fountain darter, Etheostoma fonticola
Here, we report the complete genome of a novel aquareovirus isolated from clinically normal fountain darters, Etheostoma fonticola, inhabiting the San Marcos River, Texas, USA. The complete genome consists of 23,958 bp consisting of 11 segments that range from 783 bp (S11) to 3,866 bp (S1).AuthorsLuke R. Iwanowicz, Deborah D. Iwanowicz, Cynthia R. Adams, Teresa D. Lewis, Thomas M. Brandt, Robert S. Cornman, Lakyn R. SandersMetabarcoding of fecal samples to determine herbivore diets: A case study of the endangered Pacific pocket mouse
Understanding the diet of an endangered species illuminates the animal’s ecology, habitat requirements, and conservation needs. However, direct observation of diet can be difficult, particularly for small, nocturnal animals such as the Pacific pocket mouse (Heteromyidae: Perognathus longimembris pacificus). Very little is known of the dietary habits of this federally endangered rodent, hindering mAuthorsDeborah D. Iwanowicz, Amy G. Vandergast, Robert S. Cornman, Cynthia R. Adams, Joshua R. Kohn, Robert N. Fisher, Cheryl S. BrehmeEffects of urban land-use on largescale stonerollers in the Mobile River Basin, Birmingham, AL
During the spring and fall of 2001 and the spring of 2002 a study was conducted to evaluate the health of the largescale stoneroller (Campostoma oligolepis) populations in streams along an urban land-use gradient. Sites were selected from a pool of naturally similar sub-basins (eco-region, basin size, and geology) of the Mobile River basin (MRB), using an index of urban intensity derived from infrAuthorsDeborah D. Iwanowicz, M.C. Black, Vicki S. Blazer, H. Zappia, Wade L. BryantTaxonomic characterization of honey bee (Apis mellifera) pollen foraging based on non-overlapping paired-end sequencing of nuclear ribosomal loci
Identifying plant taxa that honey bees (Apis mellifera) forage upon is of great apicultural interest, but traditional methods are labor intensive and may lack resolution. Here we evaluate a high-throughput genetic barcoding approach to characterize trap-collected pollen from multiple North Dakota apiaries across multiple years. We used the Illumina MiSeq platform to generate sequence scaffolds fro
AuthorsRobert S. Cornman, Clint R.V. Otto, Deborah D. Iwanowicz, Jeffery S PettisTransforming growth factor-β1 expression in endangered age-0 shortnose suckers (Chasmistes brevirostris) from Upper Klamath Lake, OR relative to histopathology, meristic, spatial, and temporal data
During July – September of 2008, 2009, and 2010 endangered age-0 juvenile shortnose suckers were sampled from Upper Klamath Lake, OR in a health evaluation that included the measurement of transforming growth factor – beta (TGF-β) expression in spleen in combination with a histopathology assessment. This analysis was performed to determine if the expression of this immuno-regulator could be used aAuthorsChristopher A. Ottinger, Christine L. Densmore, Laura S. Robertson, Deborah D. Iwanowicz, Scott P. VanderkooiEvidence of estrogenic endocrine disruption in smallmouth and largemouth bass inhabiting Northeast U.S. National Wildlife Refuge waters: A reconnaissance study
Intersex as the manifestation of testicular oocytes (TO) in male gonochoristic fishes has been used as an indicator of estrogenic exposure. Here we evaluated largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) or smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) form 19 National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) in the Northeast U.S. inhabiting waters on or near NWR lands for evidence of estrogenic endocrine disruption. WaterbodiAuthorsLuke R. Iwanowicz, Vicki S. Blazer, A.E. Pinkney, C.P. Guy, A.M. Major, K. Munney, S. Mierzykowski, S. Lingenfelser, A. Secord, K. Patnode, T.J. Kubiak, C. Stern, Cassidy M. Hahn, Deborah D. Iwanowicz, Heather L. Walsh, Adam J. SperryMycobacterial infection in Northern snakehead (Channa argus) from the Potomac River catchment
The Northern snakehead, Channa argus (Cantor), is a non-native predatory fish that has become established regionally in some temperate freshwater habitats within the United States. Over the past decade, Northern snakehead populations have developed within aquatic ecosystems throughout the eastern USA, including the Potomac River system within Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Since this specAuthorsChristine L. Densmore, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Anne Henderson, Deborah D. Iwanowicz, J.S. OdenkirkSpread of the Rat Lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) in Giant African Land Snails (Lissachatina fulica) in Florida, USA
The rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) is a parasitic nematode that causes rat lungworm disease. It is the leading cause of eosinophilic meningitis and is a zoonotic health risk. We confirmed the presence of A. cantonensis using species-specific, quantitative PCR in 18 of 50 (36%) giant African land snails (Lissachatina fulica) collected from Miami, Florida in May 2013. These snails were cAuthorsDeborah D. Iwanowicz, Lakyn R. Sanders, W. Bane Schill, Maniphet V Xayavong, Alexandre J da Silva, Yvonne Qvarnstrom, Trevor SmithEfficacy of iodine for disinfection of Lake Sturgeon eggs from the St. Lawrence River, New York
Optimal fish husbandry to reduce the risk of disease is particularly important when using wild fish as the source for gametes. The propagation and reestablishment of Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens in New York waters to become a viable self-sustaining population is considered a high priority by managers. While standard hatchery egg disinfection practices have been used to prevent the transmissiAuthorsMarc A. Chalupnicki, Dawn E. Dittman, Clifford E. Starliper, Deborah D. IwanowiczDistribution, Health, and Development of Larval and Juvenile Lost River and Shortnose Suckers in the Williamson River Delta Restoration Project and Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon: 2008 Annual Data Summary
Federally endangered Lost River sucker Deltistes luxatus and shortnose sucker Chasmistes brevirostris were once abundant throughout their range but populations have declined; they have been extirpated from several lakes, and may no longer reproduce in others. Poor recruitment into the adult spawning populations is one of several reasons cited for the decline and lack of recovery of these species,AuthorsSummer M. Burdick, Christopher Ottinger, Daniel T. Brown, Scott P. VanderKooi, Laura Robertson, Deborah D. IwanowiczIntersex (Testicular Oocytes) in smallmouth bass from the Potomac River and selected nearby drainages
Intersex, or the presence of characteristics of both sexes, in fishes that are normally gonochoristic has been used as an indicator of exposure to estrogenic compounds. In 2003, during health assessments conducted in response to kills and a high prevalence of skin lesions observed in smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu in the South Branch of the Potomac River, the presence of immature oocytes witAuthorsVicki S. Blazer, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Deborah D. Iwanowicz, David R. Smith, John A. Young, J.D. Hedrick, S.W. Foster, S.J. ReeserNon-USGS Publications**
Cartwright, D.D. 1998. Dietary lipid levels of juvenile yellow perch (Master’s Thesis). Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.Densmore, C. L., J. H. Schachte, V. S. Blazer, T. B. Waldrop, C. J. Petrie, A. Mack, M. V. Bature, P. S. Pooler, D.D. Cartwright and W. B. Schill. 2001. A comparison of susceptibility to Myxobolus cerebralis, the cause of whirling disease among Onchorhynchus mykiss strains in field and laboratory exposures. J. Aquatic Animal Health 13:220-227.Gauthier, D. T., D.D. Cartwright, C. L. Densmore, V. S. Blazer, and C. A. Ottinger. 2003. Measurement of in vitro mitogenesis in fish: ELISA based detection of the thymidine analogue 5’-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine. Fish & Shellfish Immunology 14(4):279-288.Blazer, V. S., Densmore, C. L.; Schill, W. B.; Cartwright, D.D., and Page, S. J. 2004. Comparative susceptibility of Atlantic salmon, lake trout and rainbow trout to Myxobolus cerebralis in controlled laboratory exposures. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 58(1):27-34.Iwanowicz, L., Griffin, A., Cartwright, D., and Blazer, V. 2006. Mortality and pathology associated in brown bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) naturally infected with Edwarsiella ictaluri under tank culture conditions. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 70(3):219-225.Blazer, V. S., L. R. Iwanowicz, D. D. Iwanowicz, D. R. Smith, J. A. Young, J. D. Hedrick, S. W. Foster, and S.J. Reeser. 2007. Intersex (Testicular oocytes) in Smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu from the Potomac River and selected nearby drainages. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health. 19: 242-253.Iwanowicz, D.D. 2007. Effects of environmental stressors and anthropogenic disturbances on infections with myxozoan parasites (Doctoral dissertation). University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia. Print.Iwanowicz, L. R., D. D. Iwanowicz, L. M. Pote, V. S. Blazer, and W. B. Schill. 2008. Morphology and 18S rDNA of Henneguya gurlei (Myxosporea) from Ameiurus nebulosus (Siluriformes) in North Carolina, USA. Journal of Parasitology 94:46-57.Burdick, S.M., Ottinger, C., Brown, D.T., VanderKooi, S.P., Robertson, L., and Iwanowicz, D.. 2009. Distribution, health, and development of larval and juvenile Lost River and Shortnose suckers in the Williamson River Delta restoration project and Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon: 2008 Annual Data Summary: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2009-1287, 76 p.Blazer, V.S., L.R. Iwanowicz, C.E. Starliper, and D.D. Iwanowicz. 2010. Mortality of Centrarchid fishes in the Potomac Drainage: Survey results and overview of potential contributing factors. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health. 22: 190-218.
1. Iwanowicz, D.D. 2011. Overview On the Effects of Parasites On Fish Health. Pages 176-184 in Cipriano, R.C., Bruckner, A.W. and Shchelkunov, I.S., editors. 2011. Bridging America and Russia with Shared Perspectives on Aquatic Animal Health Proceedings of the Third Bilateral Conference between Russia and the United States. 20 July 2009. Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, Landover, Maryland, USA.
https://www.lsc.usgs.gov/files/D%20Iwanowicz%202011.pdf
Walsh, HL, LR Iwanowicz, GW Glenney, D. D. Iwanowicz, VS Blazer. 2012. Description of Two New Gill Myxozoans from Smallmouth (Micropterus dolomieu) and Largemouth (M. salmoides) Bass. Journal of Parasitology. 98 415-422.Iwanowicz, D. D., L.R. Iwanowicz, E.W. Howerth, W.B. Schill, V.S. Blazer, and R.L. Johnson. 2013. Characterization of a new Myxozoan Species (Myxozoa: Myxobolidae: Myxosporea) in Largescale Stonerollers (Campostoma oligolepis) from the Mobile River Basin (Alabama). Journal of Parasitology 99(1): 102-111.Ciparis, S., D. D. Iwanowicz and J. R. Voshell. 2013. Relationships between nutrient enrichment, pleurocerid snail densities, and trematode infection rates in streams. Fish Biology 58 (7): 1392-1404.Iwanowicz. D.D., L.R. Iwanowicz, N. Hitt, T.L. King. 2013. Differential expression profiles of miRNA in the Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus) associated with White Nose affected and unaffected individuals. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2013–1099, 11 p., available only at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2013/1099Blazer, V.S, D.D. Iwanowicz, H.L. Walsh, A.J. Sperry, L.R. Iwanowicz, D.A. Alvarez, R.A. Brightbill, G. Smith and R. Manning. 2014. Reproductive Health Indicators of Fishes from Pennsylvania Watersheds: Association with Chemicals of Emerging Concern. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 186 (10): 6471-6491.Morrison, C., M. Springmann, D. Iwanowicz, and C. Wade. 2014.Development of ten microsatellite loci in the intensive giant African land snail, Achatina (Lissachatina) fulica Bowdich, 1822. Conservation Genetics Resources. 19 September.Chalupnicki, M., D. Dittman, C.E. Starliper, and D.D. Iwanowicz. 2015. Efficacy of Iodine for Disinfection of Lake Sturgeon Eggs from the St. Lawrence River, New York. North American Journal of Aquaculture 77: 82-89.Iwanowicz, D, Sanders L, Schill W., Xayavong M, de Silva, A, Qvarnstrom Y, Smith T. 2015. Spread of the Rat Lungworm (Angiostrogylus cantonensis) in Giant African Land Snails (Lissachatina fulica) in Florida, USA. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 51(3): 749-753. doi: 10.7589/2014-06-160. Epub 2015 May 14.Starliper, C.E., B.J. Watten, D.D. Iwanowicz, P.A. Green, N. L. Bassett, and C.R. Adams. 2015. Efficacy of pH Elevation as a Bactericidal Strategy for Treating Ballast Water of Freight Carriers. Journal of Advanced Research 6: 501-509.
Iwanowicz, L., V. Blazer, A. Pinkney, C. Guy, A. Major, K. Munney, S. Mierzykowski, S. Lingenfelser, A. Secord, T. Kubiak, C. Stern, C. Hahn, D. Iwanowicz, H. Walsh, and A. Sperry. 2015. Evidence of Estrogenic Endocrine Disruption in Smallmouth Bass and Largemouth Bass Inhabiting Northeast U.S. National Wildlife Refuge Waters: A Reconnaissance Study. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 124: 50-59.Densmore, C.L., L.R. Iwanowicz, A.P. Henderson, D.D. Iwanowicz and J.S. Odenkirk. 2015. Mycobacterial Infection in Northern Snakehead (Channa argus) from the Potomac River Catchment. Journal of Fish Diseases. Epub 2015.Cornman, R.S., C.R.V. Otto, D. Iwanowicz, J.S. Pettis. 2015. Taxonomic characterization of honey bee (Apis mellifera) pollen foraging based on non-overlapping paired-end sequencing of nuclear ribosomal loci. Plos OneIwanowicz, D., M.C. Black, V.S. Blazer, H. Zappia, and W. Bryant. 2016. Effects of urban land-use on largescale stonerollers in the Mobile River Basin, Birmingham, AL. Ecotoxicology 25:608-621.Ottinger, C.A., C.L. Densmore, L.S. Robertson, D.D. Iwanowicz, S.P. VanderKooi. 2016. Transforming growth factor-β1 expression in endangered age-0 shortnose suckers (Chasmistes brevirostris) from Upper Klamath Lake, OR relative to histopathology, meristic, patial and temporal data. Fish and Shellfish Immunology 49:1-6.Iwanowicz, D.D., A.G. Vandergast, R.S. Cornman, C.R. Adams, J.R. Kohn, R.N. Fisher, C.S. Brehme. 2016. Metabarcoding of fecal samples to determine herbivore diets: a case study of the endangered pacific pocket mouse. Plos OneIwanowicz, D.D., W.B. Schill, D.H. Olson, M.J. Adams, C. Densmore, R.S.Cornman, C. Adams, C.Figiel, Jr., C.W. Anderson, A.R. Blaustein, and T. Chestnut. 2017. Potential concerns with the analytical methods used for the detection of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans from archived DNA of amphibian swab samples, Oregon, USA. Herpetological Review 48(2): 352-355.Smart, M.D., R.S. Cornman, D.D. Iwanowicz, M. McDermott-Kubeczko, J.S. Pettis, M.S. Spivak, C.R.V. Otto. 2017. A comparison of honey bee-collected pollen from working agricultural lands using light microscopy and ITS metabarcoding. Environmental Entomology 46(1):38-49. DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvw159Prosser, D.J., C.L.Densmore, L.J. Hindman, D.D. Iwanowicz, C.A. Ottinger, L.R. Iwanowicz, C.P. Driscoll, J.L. Nagel. 2017. Low pathogenic avian influenza viruses in wild migratory waterfowl in a region of high poultry production, Delmarva, Maryland. Avian Diseases 61(1): 128-134.**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
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